Political Prisoners

Chirniy Oleksiy

Detention: On the night of May 8-9, 2014, in Simferopol, Oleksiy Chirniy was detained by Russian FSB officers. He is the fourth defendant in the so-called 'Sentsov case' along with filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, activist Oleksandr Kolchenko, and photographer Hennadiy Afanasyev. After his arrest, Chirniy was held in complete isolation for nine months, with no access to Ukrainian consuls. His first meeting with Consul Hennadiy Breskalenko took place only on February 3, 2015. The occupying authorities declared him a 'Russian citizen,' but he insisted on his Ukrainian citizenship. He was subjected to torture following his detention. Sentence: On April 21, 2015, the North Caucasus District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Oleksiy Chirniy to 7 years of strict regime imprisonment. Chirniy served his sentence in three facilities: Magadan, Moscow, and the VK-15 colony in Bataysk, Rostov region. On May 7, 2021, after serving his full term, he was released. From the colony to the Ukrainian border, Oleksiy was accompanied by Ukraine's Consul General in Rostov-on-Don, Taras Malyshevskyi. Until the end, Oleksiy doubted his release would happen: 'The administration constantly provoked, saying "Crimea is ours," not ours. At that time, they already had a law that added 5 years if you said "occupation."' He realized they were heading to the border only after passing Rostov and turning north.

As of: 03/07/2026

Davidenko Kostyantyn

Detention: On February 11, 2018, in occupied Simferopol, Kostyantyn Davidenko was apprehended as he was leaving the office of his appraiser colleagues and heading to his car. Four men in civilian clothes and balaclavas, without identification, tackled him to the ground, began beating him, handcuffed him, and forced him into a minibus. He was taken to Pavlyuk Street, to a basement, where he was beaten for several hours without charges or formalities. FSB Captain Pavlo Shentyayev stated that Davidenko was arrested on suspicion of espionage for Ukraine. He openly said: "I have a plan – I need to 'catch' three spies a year to get promoted to major and go to Moscow. Your confession is formal and needed for my reports." Sentence: After interrogation, Davidenko was flown to Moscow, where the Lefortovo Court...

As of: 03/07/2026

Davidov Mark

Detention: In October 2019, Mark Davidov was detained by FSB officers in Krasnodar Krai. Russian investigators alleged he maintained contacts with a Tajik citizen considered a member of the Syrian group 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham' and accused him of financing terrorist activities, aiding, preparing to participate in a terrorist organization, and preparing to join an illegal armed group. Human rights defenders note that 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham' was officially recognized as a terrorist organization by the Russian Supreme Court only in June 2020, after Davidov's detention. This became a key argument for the political motivation of the case. Sentence: On April 7, 2021, he was sentenced under Part 5 of Article 33, Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code ('Aiding in the financing of terrorism'), Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 ('Financing of terrorism'), and Parts 1, 3 of Article 30, Part 2 of Article 205.5 ('Preparation to attempt participation in a terrorist organization') to 18 years in a strict regime colony, with the first 2 years in prison. On October 6, 2021, the appellate court reclassified the charges under Parts 1, 3 of Article 30, Part 2 of Article 205.5 to Part 1 of Article 30, Part 2 of Article 208 ('Preparation to participate in an armed formation in a foreign state not provided for by the legislation of this state, with purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation'). On September 21, 2022, the cassation court reclassified the charges under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 to Part 1 of Article 30, Part 1.1 of Article 205.1, and imposed a final sentence of 17 years, with the first 2 years in prison and the remaining term in a strict regime colony.

Davydchenko Mykola

Arrest: Mykola was detained by FSB officers in December 2024. According to Russian investigators, he allegedly photographed locations of Russian air defense systems and transmitted this information to Ukrainian intelligence. In addition to charges of treason (Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code), he was also accused of illegal acquisition, manufacture, storage, and transportation of explosives and explosive devices (Articles 222.1 and 223.1 of the Russian Criminal Code). Ukrainian human rights activists emphasize that it is impossible to independently verify the circumstances of the case, as the trial was held in a closed session and the investigation materials remain inaccessible to the public. Sentence: In September 2025, the Russian-controlled 'Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea' found Mykola Davydchenko guilty and sentenced him to 17 years in a high-security penal colony. The court also imposed a significant fine and further restrictions on his freedom after release. The Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea called this sentence illegal and highlighted the case as another example of using Russian criminal law to persecute Ukrainian citizens in the temporarily occupied territory.

Degermendzhi Bekir

Detention: On November 23, 2017, security forces in occupied Crimea detained 65-year-old Bekir Degermendzhi along with three other Crimean Tatars — Asan Chapukh, Ruslan Trubach, and Kyazim Ametov. They were charged with extortion, allegedly demanding money from Turkish citizen Yusuf Aytan. The detainees explained they were merely asking for the return of funds stolen from Crimean Tatar national movement veteran Vedzhie Kashka. The 83-year-old Vedzhie Kashka, who witnessed the detentions, experienced a health deterioration on the spot and died in an ambulance. Sentence: In April 2019, an occupation court sentenced Bekir Degermendzhi to a 3-year suspended sentence. He was released after serving the conditional sentence.

As of: 03/07/2026

Degermendzhi Mustafa

Detention: On the morning of May 7, 2015, on his way to work, Mustafa Degermendzhi's car was blocked by eight armed men in black masks. His mother, Aliye Degermendzhi, who was in the car, described the morning: “Eight armed men in black masks, with handcuffs and guns, jumped out. They dragged my son out of the car. I ran out, shouting: 'What are you doing?'. They beat him on the knees with a stick, pressed his face against the hood, and began to search him.” Mustafa and several other Crimean Tatars were accused of participating in alleged mass riots near the Crimean Supreme Council on February 26, 2014 — the 'February 26 case'. Sentence: Mustafa was held in Simferopol pre-trial detention centre for two years, where conditions, according to relatives, did not meet any standards. On April 6, 2017, he was placed under house arrest, with an electronic bracelet on his leg tracking all movements within a limited radius, not even covering the entire yard. He was prohibited from talking on the phone, using the internet, and receiving more than a few guests. In June 2018, the court sentenced Mustafa Degermendzhi to 4 years and 6 months of suspended imprisonment with a three-year probation period. After completing the probation period, he is released.

As of: 06/04/2017

Restricted

Demidova Kateryna

Detention: On August 31, 2023, Russian security forces conducted a series of searches in the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses, after which a criminal case was initiated against Kateryna Demidova under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('participation in the activities of an extremist organization'). After interrogation, she was released under a travel restriction. Human rights defenders emphasize that the persecution is solely related to her religious beliefs. Verdict: As of July 26, 2026, there is no final verdict. The criminal case continues to be considered by the court of first instance. Kateryna Demidova remains under a travel restriction. The human rights project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial' recognizes her as a person facing politically motivated persecution.

As of: 31/08/2023

Restricted

Kashuk Denys

Arrest: On December 17, 2019, FSB officers detained Simferopol resident Denys Kashuk, concealing his whereabouts from family and lawyer for several days. Russian authorities accused him of illegal acquisition, storage, and smuggling of explosives. Relatives and defense reported physical and psychological pressure during detention, forcing him to refuse an independent lawyer. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and human rights organizations called the case politically motivated. Sentence: On April 6, 2020, the Russian-controlled Armyansk City Court found Denys Kashuk guilty under Part 2 of Article 222.1 and Part 1 of Article 226.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (“illegal storage of explosives” and “smuggling of explosives”) and sentenced him to 3 years and 8 months...

As of: 26/07/2026

Derman Nariman

Detention: On February 7, 2024, Russian security forces detained him, and the following day, the Russia-controlled 'Kyiv District Court' in Simferopol ordered his pre-trial detention. Russian investigators accused Derman of participating in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion (Part 2, Article 208 of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the prosecution, he allegedly participated in the battalion's activities before the full-scale war began. Nariman Derman did not admit guilt. His wife reported that he suffered epileptic seizures during court sessions, but the court disregarded his health condition and kept him in detention. Sentence: In October 2024, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Nariman Derman guilty and sentenced him to 3 years and 6 months in a strict regime colony, with 1 year of restricted freedom after release. The human rights project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial' recognized him as a political prisoner, noting that the charges are unfounded and the battalion's activities attributed to Derman do not constitute a crime under international law.

Djemilova Lera

Detention: On May 29, 2024, Russian security forces searched her home and detained her. Initially, the occupation court sentenced her to 15 days of administrative arrest for allegedly refusing a medical examination for drug use. After this period, Lera was not released but handed over to FSB officers. She was held incommunicado for nearly ten months, without contact with family or lawyers. It was only in the spring of 2025 that it became known a criminal case had been initiated against her under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code ('treason'). The Russian side claimed she allegedly passed information to Ukrainian intelligence about the locations of Russian military units in Crimea. Ukrainian human rights defenders emphasize that it is impossible to independently verify these claims...

Djepparov Aider

Detention: On June 10, 2019, Russian security forces conducted extensive searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Bilohirsk and detained Aider Djepparov along with several other activists. Russian authorities accused him of participating in the activities of the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia has designated as a terrorist organization, although it is not banned in Ukraine and most countries worldwide. According to human rights defenders, no weapons, explosives, or other evidence of preparation for violent acts were found during the searches, and the charges were primarily based on covert audio recordings of conversations, religious studies, and testimonies from anonymous witnesses. Sentence: On January 12, 2021, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Aider Djepparov guilty and sentenced him to 17 years of imprisonment, with the first 5 years to be served in prison and the remainder in a high-security penal colony. The court also imposed further restrictions on his freedom after release. In 2024, Aider was transferred from the Chelyabinsk region to a correctional facility in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia, further complicating contact with his family.